Since childhood, baseball has been Tanner’s life. His schedule, thoughts and work reflected baseball. Tanner was all in. His biggest dream was to play at a Division 1 college. Tanner worked hard and his senior year of high school; his dream came true. University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) offered a spot on their team and Tanner was beyond excited. Two weeks after committing to UNO, what was once joy and purpose, out of nowhere was replaced with gloom and aimlessness. Now that Tanner had fulfilled his lifelong goal, he realized there was a big, empty hole in his life. There was nothing to look forward to.
“It was such a weird feeling,” Tanner shared. “I idolized baseball my whole life and my whole mindset was D1 or nothing. Now that I had that, I felt lost. I thought “What do I do now?” I needed something so I thought of church. I grew up Catholic and went at Christmas and Easter. We didn’t have family conversations about God, but we did pray before meals. I had friends who went to church. I didn’t like being told what to do and was closed minded, so I went by myself and then my mom would go with me. I have an older sister who is strong in her faith. She started to tell me how God had moved in her life. This past summer, she went on a mission trip to Alaska and showed us pictures. She said she got to see people’s lives change through Christ and that I could change other people’s lives as well.”
Baseball training began this past summer followed by a full schedule of classes. Tanner was going to his families church and was reading his Bible here and there but each week when Thursday or Friday came, he struggled. The temptations were relentless. At a study hall early into his freshman year, Tanner’s tutor asked him a question.
“One of our tutors went to Salt Company at Citylight a couple of years ago and asked me if I was religious,” Tanner described that fateful day when his life was about to change. “She then asked me “Where do you go to church?” I told her that I wasn’t really. She said, “Go to Citylight!” So, I did. That first Sunday, I saw there were a ton of kids my age. It felt like I fit in.”
Tanner found a seat and noticed a guy he knew was sitting on his left, Aidan Brummer. Aidan asked Tanner “Do you have a City Group?” Tanner didn’t know what that was.
“Aiden said it was a Bible study,” Tanner said with a huge grin. "Aidan said that I should come. He told me it was on Monday, and I went. There were a bunch of good people that I met. It’s the best thing that happened to me. We dove into God’s word and opened up about everything.”
Tanner also got an invite to go to Salt Company, Citylight’s college ministry on Thursday nights at Midtown. Tanner described Salt as
“A church that’s for college students. It’s not formal but instead a bunch of people who want to have a good time and get closer to God. It’s life-changing. The message always relates to your life. The worship is unreal, and Salt has the best people you will ever meet. People are willing to talk, listen, and make you feel welcome when you walk in. Everyone is loving and they want you to be there.”
His City Group and Salt have helped grow Tanner’s faith, perspective, and community beyond what he ever thought he needed or desired. He now has a love for God, for opportunities to talk about God and to study his word.
“All of it has made me grow in my faith and become wiser,” Tanner confessed. “I can dive into his word deeper and understand it more and more. I love going out and spreading the Gospel. Sometimes it’s hard. You don’t want to push it on people especially if they are your friends. I have seen God move a ton in my friend’s lives. I can’t change their mind, but if I can spread the truth, God will take it from there.”
Tanner has also noticed a big change in his heart. Before a faith in God, he had little purpose and felt lost. He had little comfort and peace. After accomplishing his dream of going to a Division 1 college to play baseball and not knowing where to go from there nor what to do, Tanner needed guidance.
“God guides me in my life everyday,” Tanner explained. “Even on a bad day, God has me. God is for me, God never fails, and he always comes through with his promises. He sticks to his word and even if it is big or small. I know to always ask God for guidance and pray to bring great people in my life, to bless me with good friends... that is what I have needed. God brought to me my City Group, all the people at Salt, everyone at fall retreat... he brought me so many people.”
Tanner recounts a story in the book of Mark in chapter two,
“Jesus heals a man because of his friends. If I don’t think friends matter, well, they do. In the world and in our society it is tough to be a Christian. I had someone say, “Don’t let the world change your love for Jesus, but let the love of Jesus change the world.” My future has changed and I’m never going back to my old ways. I am blessed in so many ways. I shouldn’t be here, but since Jesus died on the cross and took everything, walked the earth and died, I have peace and comfort. I want to spread his good word. I hope others can be touched by the Holy Spirit and feel his presence like I have... or more! There is nothing like it. It gives me joy!!! I am so happy and so blessed that I have a Father who loves me so much, and who paid the ultimate price for me. It is a great feeling.”
Tanner doesn’t know what the future holds, but he knows God always has a great plan. In Proverbs 16:9 it says “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” Tanner confessed that verse describes his life right now:
“I have my own plans, but ultimately God will decide where I will go. For me, I live for him every day. I remember talking with a friend about how you can’t live a double sided life. You can’t say you live for him and let your actions speak differently. You have to choose. You are either all in or all out. That forever flipped my mind. I must be all in and all in for God. This drives me every day to be the best person I can possibly be.”
To connect with the Salt Company and their community and City Groups, visit citylightomaha.org/saltco.